A supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil caught fire after striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
The force’s naval arm said the vessel was passing through a route that Tehran had not authorised when it hit the mine, triggering an explosion and an intense blaze. Iranian media carried the statement, which described the passage as unlawful.
According to the Guards, the tanker had switched off its positioning and radar systems before entering the waterway. They also alleged that it was relying on protection from the United States military. None of those claims could be checked independently.
The statement did not name the vessel. It gave no details of its flag, its owner, its destination, the number of crew on board, or whether anyone was hurt. It also said nothing about the extent of the damage or whether firefighting and rescue work had begun.
Iran’s state broadcaster released footage attributed to the Guards which it said showed the tanker burning. The pictures could not be verified independently, and the precise location of the incident has not been established.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and ranks among the world’s most important energy corridors. Before the current conflict, roughly a fifth of global energy supplies moved through it. Shipping there has fallen far below pre-war levels, according to British maritime monitors.
Tensions around the waterway have run high since February, when the United States and Israel struck sites in Iran and Tehran responded by shutting the strait and laying mines. Washington has since run a naval blockade aimed at Iranian ports, while Iran has warned vessels against using routes it does not approve.
The Guards warned commercial shipping to keep its tracking systems switched on and to coordinate with Iranian authorities. They said the strait remained closed under Tehran’s rules and cautioned that vessels defying those rules would face consequences.
